From18-19 May, the 3rd Annual Special Olympics European Open Triathlon took place in Samorin, Slovakia as part of Challenge Family’s The Championship triathlon.
23 Special Olympics triathletes from 8 different Programs (Finland, Florida (USA), Germany, Guatemala, Israel, Monaco, Netherlands and Slovakia) participated in The Championship event. Endurance being key, the athletes completed a 750-meter swim followed by a 20-kilometer bike ride and 5-kilometer run to the finish line.
Before the actual competition, the triathletes and their coaches took time on 17 May to familiarize themselves with the course to strategize about how the triathletes can compete at their best on race day.
Former Special Olympics triathlete and Special Olympics International manager of Sport and Development, Kester Edwards, was in Samorin for the The Championship. “Special Olympics Israel’s Ron Beck and Special Olympics Slovakia’s Peter Ispold stood out as good role models for other Special Olympics athletes to look up to in this sport. Ron finished first overall for the annual event with Peter not far behind in second as the two pushed the competitive edge throughout the whole race.
“Looking ahead to 2027 Special Olympics World Games in Santiago, Chile, the Challenge Family series races are a great way for athletes to get more familiarization in competing in triathlons.”
Special Olympics Slovakia supported the 3rd Annual event and had their team members at points all along the racecourse lending guidance and encouragement to the athletes as they swam, biked and ran. At the conclusion of the race, athletes joined together to celebrate one another and attended an award ceremony for the top finishers from each age/gender category.
Results from the 3rd Annual Special Olympics European Open Triathlon
Female, Age Category – Open | ||
| Esmee-Anne De Meulmeester | SO Netherlands | 1:20:35 (1st) |
| Jolein Boom | SO Netherlands | 1:29:28 (2nd) |
| Anni Aalto | SO Finland | 1:41: 26 (3rd) |
| Maya Fletcher | SO Florida | 2:00:16 (4th) |
| Male, Age Category, C (16-25 y.o.) | ||
| Ron Beck | SO Israel | 1:10:21 (1st) |
| Leo Rawstorne | SO Finland | 1:29:46 (2nd) |
| Frankie Russel | SO Florida | 1:39:03 (3rd) |
| Andrej Petrik | SO Slovakia | 2:05:27 (4th) |
| Odir Efrain Enriquez Franco | Participant | |
| Male, Age Category, D (16-29 y.o.) | ||
| Jaakko Mikkonen | SO Finland | 1:24:58 (1st) |
| Stefan Welt | SO Germany | 1:36:06 (2nd) |
| Denis Knapcok | SO Slovakia | 1:38:21 (3rd) |
| Roman Wachter | SO Germany | 1:54:02 (4th) |
| Zachary Deonath | SO Florida | 2:17:46 (5th) |
| Male, Age Category, E (30+ y.o.) | ||
| Peter Ispold | SO Slovakia | 1:15:13 (1st) |
| Stephane Kelkal | SO Monaco | 1:25:58 (2nd) |
| Luis Oswaldo Ramirez Arevalo | SO Guatemala | 1:30:13 (3rd) |
| Thomas Desperies | SO Monaco | 1:32:35 (4th) |
| Daniel Arturo Guerra Rubio | SO Guatemala | 1:32:41 (5th) |
| Lukas Vosatko | SO Slovakia | 1:40:51 (6th) |
| Leevi Salmi | SO Finland | 1:59:04 (7th) |
| Robert Tomecek | SO Slovakia | 2:10:32 (8th) |
